A Cambridge couple have picked up awards as “unsung heroes” of the community for their volunteering work with young hockey players.
Hockey stalwarts Karen Hills and Mark Wood receive their Give It Back Trust award. Photo: Supplied.
Karen Hills and Mark Wood were surprised with the Give It Back Trust gong at a Quiz Night fundraiser for Cambridge High School’s hockey teams at the Town Hall on Saturday night.
Present to watch the presentation were gold medal winning Olympians Rob Waddell and Sarah Ulmer and a sell-out crowd of more than 250 keeping an eye on the big screen as rower Emma Twigg won a silver medal in the single sculls at the Paris Olympics.
“This couple have given so much to Cambridge hockey over the years,” said Ulmer. “It’s a pretty cool feel-good story of local good people.”
Karen Hills coaching.
Give It Back Trust was set up to provide recognition of unsung heroes and volunteers in the Cambridge community, provide financial support to members of the community for health and welfare needs in situations beyond their control and to encourage others to get involved to make a more caring and vibrant society.
The couple, who have three hockey-playing children, were surprised on the night with the award for years of tireless community service to primary, intermediate and secondary school hockey.
Mark Wood coaching.
Those in the large crowd cheered as the pair took centre stage for their commitment over more than a decade, to coaching, managing, and fundraising.
In accepting the award on the stage with members of the Cambridge High School boys and girls first XIs, Wood noted there were only four of the players who they had not coached.
“We were thrilled to receive the award; it means a huge amount to us. We just feel so lucky to be part of the Cambridge High School hockey community,” said Hills.
The couple coach and manage the school’s under 15 boys and girls A teams while Hills also manages the first XI.
They were instrumental in establishing the first Hautapu club hockey team this year and have taken teams to the annual Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools (Aims) games in Tauranga.
And despite their youngest child now being in Year 12 at high school, they maintain an involvement with Cambridge Middle School teams.
“They attend every match and practice for all the teams, six days a week, also holding practices at their own home,” the citation for the award said.
“They have an inclusive, supportive approach and have created the most awesome culture within every team they are part of. Whether your child is a future Black Stick or still trying to figure out which end of the stick to hold, they give them time, instil confidence and make them feel just awesome about their own abilities.”
Hockey stalwarts Karen Hills and Mark Wood receive their awards.
Hockey stalwarts Karen Hills and Mark Wood
